Just got Diagnosed with Emerald Ash Borer

[KenLockett]

Your post caused me to do some research for a few days on current EAB treatments.

It appears the USDA has approved of introductions of some specific wasp species that like EAB very much, and who have their maturation cycles in sync with EABs'.

From our friends at Wikipedia:

Three species imported from China were approved for release by the USDA in 2007 and in Canada in 2013: Spathius agrili, Tetrastichus planipennisi, and Oobius agrili, while Spathius galinae was approved for release in 2015.[32][33] Excluding Spathius galinae, which has only recently been released, the other three species have been documented parasitizing EAB larvae one year after release, indicating that they survived the winter, but establishment varied among species and locations.[33] Tetrastichus planipennisi and Oobius agrili established and have had increasing populations in Michigan since 2008; Spathius agrili has had lower establishment success in North America, which could be due to a lack of available EAB larvae at the time of adult emergence in spring, limited cold tolerance, and better suitability to regions of North America below the 40th parallel.


Maybe you can order some and introduce them to your property?

Earl

I for one am wary of the introduction of one non-native species to counter another non-native species. Good example are the Asian Lady Bugs. If my information is correct they were introduced in the mid-west to deal with the aphids that were consuming soy beans or something of that sort. Anyhow, those things are a pain in my ass. They swarm in the fall and nest in my walls and on warm indian summer fall days find their way into every nook and cranny of my old house. My wife is allergic to them and they stain anything that they come into contact with including curtains, walls, siding, etc. Luckily a few years ago a friend of mine in Iowa told me about an insecticide that is 'not permitted' in this state that seems to do the trick if sprayed on my clapboard siding at the strategic time in the fall. I have the family leave for the day when I spray (with the proper protective gear of course) then we wash the windows and doors down afterwards. Another horrific time I had a few years ago were the northern tent caterpillars. They consumed every leaf on every tree on my property. I tried like crazy to stop them including duct tape with vaseline, insecticides, etc. to no avail. Toward the end there were these huge horseflies that showed up (again if my understanding and information is correct introduced to deal with the tent caterpillars) that were crazy aggressive towards us when we were outdoors. They had no impact on the caterpillars that I could tell. Anyhow, based upon my research these swarms are cyclic say every 10 years and have not seen them sense. Moral of the story I think mother nature ultimately takes care of things in her own way.

 

[D8Chumley]

This will suck for me as well when it hits. I have many ash trees around my property, some pretty large ones close to the house and garage. Fortunately I also have poplar, black walnut, cherry, dogwood, elm and maple on my property so hopefully my privacy from the road won't be completely lost. Sad, indeed

 

[FirewoodAddict]

Just had an Arborist come to my property today and he confirmed what I already was pretty sure of, I have Emerald Ash Borer. This is going to be devastating for my property as I am 95% Ash Trees. I live in culdesac with an acre of land with at least 200 trees on my property. I am sick thinking of what is going to happen in the next 2-5 years. The arborist told me that not a single tree will survive this infestation. I can treat a few of my bigger trees but it will cost me $250 a tree and I will have to treat them every 2 years forever or until they come up with something to kill this bug. I have been a wood burner for over 25 years and just changed over to a pellet stove last year and I am seriously considering changing back over to wood again. I easily have 6-10 years of wood on my property. Just venting a little because I am pretty depressed over this news. I have probably only slept a few hours at night for the past few weeks. Has anyone out there ever gone through this?

Yes going through it right now. moved here 2012 and was covered in ash trees... didn't know a thing about EIB or what an ash tree was until about a month after i moved there was a special on the local news about it in the area and they showed an ash tree which i had never seen before (wasn't a wood burner until i moved here) anyhow, looked out the window and thought huh... they all look like ash trees out on my property (1.7 acres), well 3 1/2 years later i've taken down 12 trees close to the house so far and Sandy took down another 5 and i have 3 more i have to take down this fall as they are looking shotty at best. I know it sucks but unfortunately its inevitable.... and yes, you need to switch back to a wood stove for sure, like i said, i wasn't a wood burner until EIB made me one!

 

[kennyp2339]

Yes going through it right now. moved here 2012 and was covered in ash trees... didn't know a thing about EIB or what an ash tree was until about a month after i moved there was a special on the local news about it in the area and they showed an ash tree which i had never seen before (wasn't a wood burner until i moved here) anyhow, looked out the window and thought huh... they all look like ash trees out on my property (1.7 acres), well 3 1/2 years later i've taken down 12 trees close to the house so far and Sandy took down another 5 and i have 3 more i have to take down this fall as they are looking shotty at best. I know it sucks but unfortunately its inevitable.... and yes, you need to switch back to a wood stove for sure, like i said, i wasn't a wood burner until EIB made me one!

And now look, your an addict

 

[bags]

There are several people who mix corn and pellets. Harmans will burn a 50 / 50 mix as is. I have done this in mine. I switched to pellets for probably a lot of the same reasons you have last year also after many moons of heating with wood. I do still have my wood burning options in tact though. Always will because I need them just to maintain downed / dead trees on my land. You could also buy a used wood stove and place it elsewhere to supplement.

Bottom line is you could process the wood and sell it to pay for your pellets so in reality you would not be out any cash for heating fuel. Around here a cord of wood sells for about the same as a ton of pellets. You would have the investment of time to process and sell the wood though.

Corn is cheaper than firewood so you could also come out on top there trading said wood for corn. Damn shame but Good Luck.

 

[Lake Girl]

I for one am wary of the introduction of one non-native species to counter another non-native species. Good example are the Asian Lady Bugs.

The Lady beetles were imported to destroy purple loosestrife that was killing marshlands. They were supposed to die off the first winter. They increased and then died off ... might have been the really cold winter a couple of years ago...

 

[KenLockett]

The Lady beetles were imported to destroy purple loosestrife that was killing marshlands. They were supposed to die off the first winter. They increased and then died off ... might have been the really cold winter a couple of years ago...

The ones I see around here have been prevalent going on 15 years now. Like clockwork every fall. Wish they would die off!

 

[wpgibson]

I'm about 40 minutes north of Baltimore. EAB is just getting started in my area. I put down the Bayer product last year, but I've decided that I'll remove and replant.

I only have 2 ash trees, but they are mature and provide excellent afternoon shade in the summer months to the west side of our house.

 

[STIHLY DAN]

I have often wondered why they have not taken small 10 ft trees from a non EAB area and shipped them to the place that EAB 1st arrived, the bug must be gone from there. Also be far enough away from the nearest bug that it cant/wont come back. Long live the mighty ASH.

 

[begreen]

Bummer, but on an acre it should be worth trying to save some trees. Can you learn how to do the treatment yourself and buy the equipment and chemical (Emamectin Benzoate?) to do this?
(broken link removed)
(broken link removed to http://www.emeraldashborer.info/treeage.cfm#sthash.cklwqDhM.dpbs)
http://www.arborjet.com/

 

[Babaganoosh]

I have often wondered why they have not taken small 10 ft trees from a non EAB area and shipped them to the place that EAB 1st arrived, the bug must be gone from there. Also be far enough away from the nearest bug that it cant/wont come back. Long live the mighty ASH.

I was wondering the same thing myself the other day.

 

[Ashful]

There are trunk soak options, which if you're concerned about root soak method of so many trees on a small lot, can reduce soil toxicity problems. You really only need to move to the injection-based systems when you're trying to save a tree that's already got the bug, and even then success is limited. For purely preventative, trunk soak works fairly well, and root soak works well on smaller ash.

 

[Applesister]

I would continue with pellet as planned, and add a second wood stove someplace else in the house, the free heat from the trees will offset the cost of pellets. And the installation of a second stove.
It sounds like you will have several years of heat from the wood.
One thing, I would never cut healthy Ash trees down with the idea they are gonna die anyway.
Like Elm and Chestnut, you always hope the trees will develope a resistance.

 

[mark cline]

EAB was found about 7 miles from where I'm building my log retirement home near Ranolph NY
I have 175 acres with about 20% ash. Over the last 5 yrs, I have seen very little evidence of any damage. Our winters have been colder than normal ,down to -10 quite often through the winter. I think this has done a lot to reduce the population and reduce any further damage.
My son and I heat with wood 24/7 , so we were looking at harvesting many ash , but it just is not happening.Good for us but I think the coastal states are going to bare the brunt of EAB,not having the very cold winters to slow or control EAB.

 

[begreen]

So far NY is fairing better than the upper mid-west it seems. It looks like EAB has hit Mich. pretty hard and that is a cold state.
(broken link removed to http://www.emeraldashborer.info/files/MultiState_EABpos.pdf)

 

[Oldman47]

I think you'll find it started spreading from the upper mid-west so them being harder hit is not too surprising.